september: make a habit - break a habit challenge

happy pre-labor day!
can you believe that we only have three more weeks of summer left?!
it is BEYOND insane to think that fall is literally right around the corner!

instead of spending tomorow cooking out this year (because we don't have labor day off anyway), i decided to start a new challenge for myself to keep pushing toward the life i want to lead. to that end, i am going to focus on making one good habit and breaking a bad one this month.

make a habit: exercise!
      my nike+ running plan that will prepare me for my first run in October starts tomorrow, and i need to hit the ground running (hahahaha - i'm a geek)!
      i also want to attend yoga at least once a week from now on. i need to take advantage of getting classes at college prices, and given how much yoga has changed my life, i should've never stayed away this long!


break a habit: using technology at bedtime.
      i have a horrible habit of settling into bed with my laptop/phone and then wondering where three hours went when i finally stop perusing pointless garbage on both. i have much more restful sleep when i keep those things away, and i use a lot less electricity when i'm not attached to them all the time.

any habits you want to make/break?

in pursuit of:

preparing to participate in at least three runs/races
mastering 10 hatha asanas

drastically reducing my carbon footprint

6 easy diys for natural, vegan, and gluten-free products

since developing a milk and wheat allergy, i am always on the hunt for vegan and gluten-free products to ensure i don't take chances with suffering from a reaction.

while surfing on etsy, i came across just the goods, which is this amazing mecca of vegan handmade products. sadly, she ships from canada and the cost was too high to justify the purchases. and that's when i decided to go ahead and make my own!

i am transitioning away from commercial products with the intention of starting 2017 using all homemade products for myself and my home. it's a transition because i am on a serious budget and i can't bring it to myself to get rid of absolutely everything in order to start from scratch! so for now and the rest of 2014, i am focused on hair and skin products.

here are the products i've begun using that i think are pretty simple to make!

shampoo
          note: i use bentonite clay instead of rhassoul, water instead of aloe, and jojoba instead of the oils in the vid. basically, i just used the measurements...

leave-in
          note: i'm using #2!

deodorant

face and body wash
          note: leave out the honey for a vegan product - it still works well!

body spray
          note: i used raspberry extract instead of vanilla and a mix of sweet orange and peppermint EOs for mine!

dusting powder
          note: i used 100% arrowroot powder!

i'm using avocado oil as my conditioner, coconut oil as my "lotion," and argan oil as my facial moisturizer. the next products i tackle will be a super thick moisturizer for the freezing winter weather, a protein treatment (i plan on trying bragg's aminos mixed with kombucha for the time being) and toothpaste/powder (i am currently using now solutions xyli-white).

what are some of your favorite diys? any experience making natural products?

in pursuit of:

drastically reducing my carbon footprint

linking up with tuesday pretties

four reasons why i've [finally] become a vegan

... because i believe that the Divine spark we revere within us is also within all living creatures.

... because i cannot justify the death or discomfort of any living creature for the sake of luxury or cosmetic research.

... because i believe that my body is a temple and deserves to be fed in a manner that will ensure it operates at its best according to my needs.

... because i am only one person, but i can make a difference.

in pursuit of:

drastically reducing my carbon footprint

adopting a healthy way of eating that will heal my body

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crown & glory: wash day 8.10 [fail]

detoxed hair and scalp with bentonite clay (a few tablespoons of clay and about a cup of water). note: i purchased mine from mom's organic market!

deep conditioned with a mix of coconut and argan oils. note: will switch to avocado oil for the next wash.

used a bit of tresemme naturals nourishing moisture conditioner as a leave-in to band overnight.

after airdrying for around 24 hours, i set my hair on velcro rollers and rolled upwards using jane carter wrap & roll.

after airdrying for around three hours, i unrolled (MUCH, MUCH easier since i rolled upward this time!) and wrapped my hair for bed using argan oil.

in the morning, i was not amused....

i really have to figure out how to maintain these dang roller sets!

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory (less harmful chemicals + no buns even though my hair looked a hot mess...)
reducing my carbon footprint (less time in the shower + no electricity for hair drying + less commercial hair products = less chemicals down the drain)

how was your wash day [hopefully better than mine!]?